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Barbara and David McKenna share a kiss on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 in front of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson inspired by the iconic photograph taken in New York City when the end of World War II was announced. The sculpture will be the centerpiece of an exhibition of 20 sculptures from Johnson's 'Celebrating the Familiar' series at McKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. "We had an exhibition by Seward Johnson five years ago and it was the most requested exhibit to come back to the Garden," said Christine Hobart, executive director of McKee. "The pieces are so real and life-like that I think it appeals to every visitor." The large sculpture will be on display for the public on Wednesday, Dec. 12 and the 20 life-size sculptures will be on display Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019 PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019. PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

VERO BEACH — Seward Johnson’s monumental sculpture "Embracing Peace" already is on display at McKee Botanical Garden. The rest of the sculptures from his "Celebrating the Familiar" series will join the display Jan. 5 through April 28.

This exhibition includes 20 life-scale bronze figures depicting what Seward Johnson refers to as “the beautiful moments of ordinary life.”

He says these sculptures celebrate “the emotional and spiritual sustenance and pleasure that nature can provide to help us deal with life’s inevitable struggles.”

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The installation of 'Embracing Peace', a 25-foot sculpture by Seward Johnson, began Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at KcKee Botanical Garden in Indian River County. The sculpture will be part of an exhibition of Johnson's 20-piece 'Celebrating the Familiar' series that will be open to the public on Jan. 5 through April 28, 2019.(Photo: PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM)

"Embracing Peace" is the centerpiece of this exhibition and Johnson's most renowned bronze sculpture.

At 25 feet tall, "Embracing Peace" was inspired by the moment in New York City on V-J Day, August 14, 1945, that captured the jubilance of Americans at the end of World War II was announced.

The sculpture has been featured in various cities across the United States from Florida to California, as well as in Times Square, NYC, Rome, Italy, and Civitavecchia, Italy. A casting of the sculpture also been on display in Normandy, France.

Following an early career as a painter, Johnson, now 88, turned his talents to the medium of sculpture, both life-size and monumental. Since that time, more than 450 of his life-size cast bronze figures have been featured in private collections and museums throughout the world.

Seward Johnson has been committed to public art throughout his career. He has long been considered one of the most widely recognized sculptors of our time.

His impact on the world of sculpture includes the creation of The Johnson Atelier and the founding of Grounds for Sculpture, a 42-acre sculpture park and museum located in Hamilton, NJ. Inducted in 2014 into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, Johnson continues to sculpt increasingly memorable works for public display.